Sheet separator



Feb.- 26, 1929, 1,703, 90

C. L. PQST SHEET SEPARATOR Original Filed March 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1929.

C. L. POST SHEET SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 19, 1924 4.. Wm P nL q 1 e W w 5 Z (D \I 1. I75 /V w m g h J. a bx O O 4. x Q m b W Q i... s 2. 3 o x Q 5 Y \m Q m ill i n I v\\ V Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES CLAUDE L. rosr, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET SEPARATOR.

Original application filed March 19, 1924, Serial No. 700,403, Divided and this application filed January My invention relates to sheet separators and is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 700,403, filed March 19, 1924.

The object ofthe invention is broadly to I provide improved means for separating and feeding sheets of paper, or the equivalent, to printing mechanism.

A particular object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for feeding envelopes from a magazine to a printing roll and for maintaining the envelopes in absolute registry with the roll during the feeding operation.

Many other objects and advantages of the 16 construction herein shown ant described will be obvious to those skilled -in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. 1 p

In the drawings, 7 wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a printing machine embodying my invention; and

. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the preferred form of construction, as shown in the drawings, I have shown the device as used in connection with a press for feeding envelopes from a magazine, conveying them between a pair of feed rolls and thence discharging them at the rear of the press. It is to be understood, however, that my device is not limited to envelopes, but may be used for feeding any other similar objects or materials, such as sheets or the like.

1 represents a supporting frame for the printing mechanism, the same suitably supported so as to be of the correct height for most efficient operation. The envelopes are retained in a magazine 2 and are fed from the bottom, one at a time, automatically through printing rolls and are then discharged therefrom for removal. The printing rolls comprise a pair of rolls 3 and 4, respectively, the former being the type roll and the latter the platen roll, and through which the envelopes must pass to be imprinted. These rolls are driven positively in unison through any form of gearing or the like, and in any desired man-'- Serial No. 81,205.

ner, both of said rolls rotating atthe same rate of speed.

In the particular device shown, the drive shaft 5 has a friction wheel 6 thereon, engageable with a disk 7, which, in turn, is drivingly connected to the gears carried by the rolls 3 and 4. The friction wheel 6 is adjustable radially of the disk, so that the driving speed of the disk may be regulated as desired.

The magazine 2 comprises a pair of adjustable base plates 9 and 10 and a front wall or plate 11 there being upright side walls 11 adjustably positioned so that the magazine may receive any size of envelope therein. The base plates!) and 10 have elongated bolt receiving fastening slots 12 therethrough so that they may be adjustably positioned on the framework supportitng the magazine. Thus the magazine or envelope receptacle may be adjusted for various lengths of envelopes. The forward edges of the bottom plates 9 and 10 are cut away so as to'form a substantially triangular recess .for receiving the envelope flap so that the envelope may pass outwardly from the magazine below the front plate 11". One of the plates, as for instance, the plate 10 is out back farther than the other plate, as at 13, so that a flap-engaging finger, movable below said magazine to engage the envelopes, may always clear the plates and be sure to contact with the body of the envelope behind the flap portion and extend the flap forwardly. V

The magazine is preferably removably arranged on the frame at a distance away from the printing rolls, and a finger 14, operated in any desired manner, is positioned adjacent the discharge end of the magazine to engage the flaps of the envelopes and extend said flaps forwardly toward the printing rolls so that they may be frictionally held between the peripheral surfaces of feed rolls 15 and 16, respectively, and pulled therethrough in the direction of the printing rolls, said feed rolls being positively driven;

In order to convey the envelopes positively as they are discharged from the feed rolls and deliver them to the printing rolls, while at the same time centering the envelopes, I have provided a pair of channel guides 17 to receive the side edges of the envelopes and support the envelopes during their travel to the tint mg rolls. These guides 17 are adjustable to accommodate envelopes of various lengths.

Intermediate the side guides, I arrange spacedguides 37 to receive the flap portions of envelopes and convey or push them along.

Adapted to cooperate with the roll 16, and drivingly connected therewith by a belt or chain 20, is a roll 21, whereby the envelopes .are pressed downwardly and firmly held on 19 engages the rear edge of the envelope and pushes the envelope past the roll 21, where I said extended flap of the envelope is gripped between the rotating platen and type roll and is imprinted in its passage therethrough. Wheels 38 having forwardly extending teeth thereon, are carried on the lower chain drive shaft most closely adjacent the magazine, one Wheel on each side of the chain 20, so that in case the forward edge of the extended flap of an envelope fed through the rolls 15-'16 curled, the rotating wheels 38 will engage said curled portion and extend it so that it will enter the flap guides 37 without any buckling.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish *to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

VV-hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of printing rolls, an envelope magazine spaced therefrom, and means for feeding said envelopes one at a time to said printing rolls, and comprising a pair of feed rolls, means for extending the flaps of said envelopes successively into said feed rolls, a pair of guides between said feed rolls and printing rolls and adapted to receive said envelopes, and a traveling chain engageable with said envelopes at the upper surface intermediate said guides.

2. In :a device of the kind described and in combination, apair of printing rolls, an envelope magazine spaced therefrom, feed 'rolls,1neans for extending the flaps of said envelopes successively into said feed rolls, a

pair of guides between said feed rolls and printing rolls and adapted to receive the side edges of said envelopes, a traveling chain engagea ble with said envelopes along the centers of their upper'surfaces intermediate said guides, and a pair of driving lugs positively engageable with the rear edge of said'envelopes below said chain.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of printing rolls, an envelope magazine, a pair of feed rolls, means for feeding said envelopes with their flaps extended successively into said feed rolls, means for conveying said envelopes from said feed rolls to said printing rolls, guide means engaging the side edges of said envelopes, and toothed means between said guide means and flap extender-and engageable with the under surface of said flaps to straighten them during their movement into said guide means.

4. Ina device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of printing rolls, an encentral portions of the envelopes to prevent displacement thereof relative to the lugs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CLAUDE L. Posr 

